Police repression in Russia reached a new high with the arrest of more than 400 people throughout the country during commemorative demonstrations for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
OVD-Info, a human rights group dedicated to combating political persecution, revealed that at least 401 people were detained between Friday and Saturday during spontaneous tributes that have been held in several Russian cities.
However, the group warned of the possibility that the actual number of detainees is even higher since they only publish the names of people about whom they have reliable information.
Задержания у «Стены скорби» во время возложения цветов в память об Алексее Навальном.
Фото: SOTA pic.twitter.com/j9t0bQcx5a
— SOTA (@sotaproject) February 17, 2024
St. Petersburg, the city with the most detainees
The repression has spread throughout 36 cities in the country. But St. Petersburg stood out as the epicenter of a particularly brutal operation, which resulted in the arrest of more than 200 people.
In this city, citizens gathered mainly in two places to pay tribute to the deceased opposition figure: at the Monument to victims of political repression on the Resurrection embankment and at the Solovetsky Stone.
Подводим итоги последних двух мрачных дней в нашем итоговом тексте. Лидером по задержаниям стал Петербург – больше 200 человек, там же мы зафиксировали недопуски адвокатов в отделы полиции, которых ОВД-Инфо направлял для помощи задержанным.https://t.co/i1DWPcm9w5 pic.twitter.com/x18JdA1fto
— ОВД-Инфо (@OvdInfo) February 17, 2024
Putin's measures in other cities
In Moscow and other parts of the country, the flowers and candles laid in tribute to Navalny were mostly removed during the night.
Police have also blocked access to memorials to prevent people from gathering there.
Полиция оцепила «Стену скорби» в Москве, чтобы максимально затруднить возложение цветов в память Алексея Навального.
Видео: SOTA pic.twitter.com/Cu1Ji99KfJ
— SOTA (@sotaproject) February 17, 2024
Russia censors journalism
After Navalny's death was announced, numerous protests arose in Russia, which caught the attention of the local press. However, the regime repressed journalists who attempted to film and report on the demonstrations.
BREAKING: Journalists have been arrested in Moscow and St Petersburg following the death of the jailed Putin critic Alexei Navalny https://t.co/wPV2ViYWxW
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/neLuOSKYLx
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 16, 2024
The death of the opposition leader
Navalny died in the prison where he was exiled inside the Arctic Circle. The main opponent of Vladimir Putin was serving a 19-year prison sentence for various crimes, mostly with sentences based on political motivation.
Although the causes of Navalny's death have not yet been clarified, the international community has blamed the Russian regime. President Joe Biden was one of the first to point the finger directly at Putin for his opponent's death.
"There is no doubt that the death of Navalny was the consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did," the US president said during a press conference.
